[February 14, 2014](Reuters) — The United States will
play arch-rivals Mexico in a World Cup warm-up match at the University
of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on April 2, US Soccer announced
on Thursday.

"We are going to be watching our players very carefully
before making final decisions on the roster for the World Cup,
so this will be a great benchmark to see where they are at and
how they compete against our biggest rivals," said U.S. coach
Juergen Klinsmann.

The U.S. are in a tough Group G with former world champions
Germany, who Klinsmann has both played for and managed, Portugal
and Ghana, while Mexico face World Cup hosts and five-times
winners Brazil, Croatia and Cameroon in Group A.

European-based players are not expected to play in the
U.S.-Mexico friendly international due to their club
commitments, which means Mexican fans are unlikely to see their
leading striker Javier Hernandez of Manchester United in action.

The U.S. and Mexico qualified for this year's World Cup in
contrasting fashion. The U.S. won the CONCACAF group, while
Mexico finished fourth and had to win a two-legged playoff
against Oceania winners New Zealand to secure a place.

The World Cup finals kick off on June 12.

(Reporting by Andrew Both in Cary, North Carolina;
editing by
Ken Ferris)